This three match series in the UAE between Pakistan and England will be remembered for many things; from its competitiveness, to individual brilliance and a random retirement.
But there is one man who should truly stand out despite not taking the headlines as the likes of Alastair Cook, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Wahab Riaz, James Anderson and Yasir Shah have done so.
That man has scored one hundred and two fifties but as yet hasn’t stolen the limelight, but gone about his business in crucially efficient fashion.
We’re talking about – of course! – Asad Shafiq.
Pakistan’s number six has contributed 326 runs at 54.33 in his six knocks in this series with a ruthless consistency that has either compounded or instigated England’s misery.
Either entering the wicket with his team in command (Abu Dhabi) or on the ropes (Dubai, Sharjah), Shafiq has come up with the goods with great affect.
The 29-year-old plays the supporting cast superbly well and it is his role as the team enabler that has made him a habit that Pakistan will not want to kick.
And considering the woes of their tail during this series, things would have been a whole lot different for the home side had he not been around to pick apart the opposition attack.
Averaging a meagre 10.64 for the 140 runs batsmen 7-11 have contributed in this series, had Shafiq been a part of this problem then England could have run away with a convincing series win.
After one outing with Shafiq in amongst those final five batsmen, that average has risen to 14.22, the accumulative runs now reading 256.
Twice Shafiq has failed on this tour – in the second innings in Abu Dhabi where his six runs were part of a stunning Pakistan capitulation and the first innings in Sharjah where he scored 5.
He has shone in his other outings, coming back from both failures to aid his team and contribute towards getting their noses firmly in front.
Shafiq’s absence of runs in the UAE capital was sandwiched between a first innings ton that supported Shoaib Malik’s marathon knock and 83 in Dubai where he led his side to 378 from 178-4.
Coming to the crease after the departure of Younis Khan, Shafiq joined his captain Misbah-ul-Haq and the pair set about putting on 104 runs for the fifth wicket to deny England further inroads at a time when the game was finely poised.
In that innings Shafiq was the last man out for Pakistan, seeing his team through to the end in the same fashion as he has done in their second innings here in Sharjah.
Another 79 in the second innings in Dubai was one of those instances where Shafiq rubbed a heap of salt into England’s wounds as he took his team to a declaration that eventually set up their 178 run win.
With his last wield of the bat in this series, Shafiq was at it once more as he poured water on England’s fire just as the flame was lit.
The man from Karachi, batting at 7 because of Rahat Ali’s unique night watchman effort, came to the crease with Pakistan 245-5 which quickly became 257-6, their lead 185 with four wickets remaining.
Had Shafiq attributed to another Pakistan tailure (tail failure of course…) then England would have very much fancied their chances if they were chasing a total around 225, even 250.
Shafiq had other ideas, however, and alongside Sarfraz Ahmed put on 57 for the next wicket and left the crease with 46 runs to his name and having accrued 109 runs from his four partnerships at the crease.
With his side setting England 284 to win by the time the final wicket fell, those runs were crucial.
This mastery of providing runs when his team most needs it is up there with the best middle-order batsmen there has ever been.
The consistency and ability to marshal a tail is also something the likes of Michael Bevan, Graham Thorpe and Javed Miandad all did with aplomb.
If Shafiq continues to provide his side with these kinds of performances for years to come, he will likely be remembered alongside these stellar names.
